EPOW - Ecology Picture of the Week

Low-Down Peregrine

Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), Family Falconidae
Bonanza Creek Long-Term Ecological Research, Alaska

Explanation:  This week we are on a research visit to central Alaska.  As we boat past this cliff face, we notice -- and zoom into -- a relatively unusual scene.  It is a nest site of a Peregrine Falcon.  And perched near the opening of this rockshelter is a fat fluffy juvenile falcon.

What makes this unusual is the very low positioning of this eyrie on the cliff face.  Typically, falcons like to nest and perch high up on cliffs, in part for a quick launch as they take flight.

But studies of Peregrine Falcons also show that they select eyrie nest sites for protection from predators.  Here, predators may include foxes and perhaps other raptors.  Perhaps, also, this particular nest site was selected because there are very few alternatives either for cliffs along this river stretch, or for rockshelter cavities on this particular cliff.  

Either way, this is one low-down peregrine ... 

   
 
Information:
     Runde, D.E. and S.H. Anderson.  1986.  Characteristics of cliffs and nest sites used by breeding Prairie Falcons.  Raptor Research 20(1):21-28.
     Wightman, C.S. and M.R. Fuller.  2005.  Spacing and physical habitat selection patterns of Peregrine Falcons in central west Greenland.  The Wilson Bulletin 117(3):226-236.